Brno

Brno is a metropolis of Moravia and the starting point for exploring the natural beauty and cultural monuments of the South Moravian region. To the north of Brno, Moravian Karst caves stretch, and to the south vineyards are spread with excellent wine cellars. The city is surrounded by forests, in which you will find a lot of opportunities for walking and cycling. Brno is proud of its famous monuments, which testify to its rich history.

The Freedom Square is the heart of the city. Main cultural events take place here. The form of the square resembles an inverted letter "A". The square and adjacent areas are located in the pedestrian zone. All major city attractions are approximately 10 minutes' walk away from here.

The Spilberk Castle and Fortress. The history of the fortress began in the 13th century. At the top of the Spilberk hill a castle was built, which subsequently often changed its masters. In the 18th century the castle was rebuilt into a Baroque mighty fortress, which became a prison with dark dungeons inspiring fear. In the dungeons of the fortress were tormented the French revolutionaries, the Italian Carbonari, the Young Italy movement supporters, the Polish insurgents and local political prisoners. The prison of peoples was a nightmarish place also during the World War II. Since 1961 Spilberk came under the control of the Brno City Museum and is now used to house exhibitions. Visitors can see former prison cells and casemates.

The Menin Gates belong to the most important historical monuments of Brno, now here expositions of the Museum of the City are held. This is the last surviving example of urban fortification, which was created in Brno for centuries.

The Old City Hall is the oldest secular building in Brno, which until 1935 housed the city administration. The oldest part of the building is dated from the middle of the thirteenth century. Around 1510 in the lower tier of the tower a passage through the courtyard was made, which A. Pilgram decorated with magnificent stone portal with figures of heralds and townspeople. In the mid-17th century on the portal a new shield emblem of the city appeared, which Brno received in 1646.

Villa Tugendhat represents a breakthrough of architectonic ideas in the twenties of the last century. The harmonious combination of light, internal and external space of the house, the purity and clarity of lines still amaze both professionals and ordinary visitors to the villa. In 2001 it was declared a World Cultural Heritage by UNESCO.

The Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul is one of the most recognizable sights of Brno. Built in the 14^th century in the Gothic style on the site where a church was standing, the cathedral was reconstructed several times. In 1777 the temple became the seat of the Brno bishopric. The Cathedral is famous for its clock, which strikes the noon at 11 hours - in memory of the events of 1645, when the bell ringer saved the city from attack by the Swedes, ringing at noon an hour earlier. The Cathedral of St. Jacob is the most valuable from an artistic point of view of the Brno church. In its place in the 13th century a Romanesque church stood. At the turn of the 14th and 15th centuries it was demolished, but instead a Gothic church was built, which stood for two centuries. In the 19th century the western facade of the cathedral was rebuilt.

The Capuchin Monastery dates back to 17th century. Many tourists descend into the crypt, where the monks are buried. Notable is the system of air circulation in the crypt, due to which bodies are not subjected to degradation and appear to be quite as living.

The Observatory named after Nicholas Copernicus and Planetarium are located practically in the city center in a picturesque park on the Cow Hill. Here you will have a wonderful chance to see the stars through a telescope, some planets of the Solar System and, of course, look at the Moon.

The Brno Exhibition Center. At the beginning of the XX-th century one of the most prestigious European exhibition complexes arose in the valley of the Pisarki area. Its operation was opened on May 26^th, 1928 by the Exhibition of contemporary culture. The Exhibition Complex is being constantly updated and changing, more than 40 fairs are held here every year, of which the most frequently visited include the construction and engineering fairs, food industry fair and fair of information technologies.

Hotels at Brno